Garlic in Honey: Benefits, How to Make It & Easy Ways to Use It
A Simple Garlic-and-Honey Mixture for Your Kitchen
Garlic in honey is a traditional homemade combination made by covering fresh garlic cloves with honey and allowing them to infuse over time. The result is a sweet, savory mixture with a mellow garlic flavor that can be used in dressings, marinades, sauces, toast, roasted vegetables, and other recipes.Garlic and honey are both well-known foods with interesting nutritional properties. Garlic contains sulfur compounds, including allicin-related compounds that are produced when garlic is crushed or chopped. Honey contains naturally occurring plant compounds and has been studied for its antioxidant properties.However, it’s important to separate traditional uses from proven medical effects. Garlic in honey can be a flavorful food, but it should not be considered a cure or treatment for infections, high blood pressure, diabetes, or other medical conditions.
Ingredients for Garlic in Honey
1 cup raw or pasteurized honey
10–15 fresh garlic cloves
Why People Like Garlic in Honey
Garlic in honey has become popular because it combines two simple ingredients into a versatile sweet-savory mixture.
People commonly enjoy it because:
Garlic provides strong savory flavor.
Honey adds natural sweetness.
The combination works well in marinades.
It can be added to salad dressings.
It makes roasted vegetables more flavorful.
Garlic becomes milder as it sits in honey.
It’s easy to prepare.
Both ingredients are widely available.
Potential Benefits of Garlic
Garlic has been studied for several aspects of health and nutrition.
Contains Sulfur Compounds
Garlic contains sulfur-containing compounds that contribute to its distinctive aroma and flavor. Crushing or chopping garlic activates enzymes that help produce compounds such as allicin.
These compounds are one reason garlic has attracted scientific interest.
Provides Antioxidant Compounds
Garlic contains various compounds with antioxidant activity.
Antioxidants help protect cells from oxidative stress, although eating garlic does not mean that it can prevent or cure a specific disease.
May Support Cardiovascular Health
Some research has investigated garlic and cardiovascular risk factors, including blood pressure and cholesterol.
The evidence is mixed and effects can vary depending on the form and amount of garlic consumed.
Garlic should therefore be viewed as part of a balanced diet rather than a replacement for prescribed treatment.
Potential Benefits of Honey
Contains Antioxidant Compounds
Honey contains naturally occurring polyphenols and other compounds that contribute to its antioxidant activity.
The exact composition varies depending on the floral source.
Provides Quick Energy
Honey primarily contains carbohydrates, so it provides a readily available source of energy.
Because honey is still an added sugar, portion size matters.
Soothes the Throat
Honey is commonly used in warm drinks for its soothing texture and sweetness.
It may also help relieve cough symptoms in some situations, particularly when used appropriately.
Honey should never be given to babies under 12 months of age because of the risk of infant botulism.
What About the Combination?
Garlic in honey is often promoted online as a natural remedy for immunity, infections, inflammation, cholesterol, and blood pressure.
Some of these claims are based on research into garlic or honey individually, while others come from traditional use or laboratory studies.
There is not enough clinical evidence to conclude that homemade garlic-in-honey preparations can prevent or cure diseases.
Think of it as a flavorful food rather than a medicinal treatment.
How to Make Garlic in Honey
Choose the Garlic
Select fresh, firm garlic cloves.
Avoid cloves that are moldy, damaged, soft, or visibly spoiled.
Peel the garlic carefully.
Lightly Crush the Garlic
Place each garlic clove on a cutting board and gently crush it with the flat side of a knife.
You don’t need to completely mince the garlic.
Lightly crushing the cloves helps release their flavor and allows the honey to surround them more easily.
Add Garlic to a Clean Jar
Place the garlic cloves into a clean, dry glass jar.
Don’t pack the jar completely full.
Leave enough room for the honey and for the contents to be stirred safely.
Add Honey
Pour honey over the garlic until the cloves are completely covered.
Use a clean spoon to gently move the garlic around and release trapped air bubbles.
Make sure the garlic remains submerged.
Refrigerate
For a homemade preparation, refrigerate the garlic-and-honey mixture.
Allow the flavors to develop for at least several days.
The garlic will gradually become softer and mellower as it sits.
For food safety, avoid treating homemade garlic-in-honey as a shelf-stable fermented product unless you are following a tested preservation/fermentation method with appropriate controls.
How to Use Garlic in Honey
Once the mixture has developed its flavor, there are many ways to use it.
Salad Dressing
Mix a small amount with olive oil, lemon juice, and black pepper.
Marinade
Use it as part of a marinade for chicken, salmon, or vegetables.
Roasted Vegetables
Drizzle a small amount over roasted carrots, sweet potatoes, or Brussels sprouts.
Toast
Spread softened garlic over toast and drizzle lightly with honey.
Stir-Fry
Add a small spoonful to a vegetable or chicken stir-fry toward the end of cooking.
Glaze
Brush a thin layer over roasted chicken or vegetables during the final minutes of cooking.
Important Food Safety Information
Garlic stored in an oxygen-free environment can create conditions favorable to Clostridium botulinum, the bacterium associated with botulism.
Honey does not automatically make raw garlic safe for long-term room-temperature storage.
For this reason, don’t assume that a jar of fresh garlic covered with honey is safe to keep indefinitely in a cupboard.
For homemade preparations:
Use clean equipment.
Use fresh garlic.
Keep the garlic covered by honey.
Refrigerate the mixture.
Discard it if you notice mold, unusual spoilage, or an unpleasant off odor.
Don’t rely on taste or smell alone to determine whether a potentially unsafe food is safe.
Don’t give honey to children younger than 12 months.
If you want a shelf-stable product, use a commercially prepared product made under appropriate food-safety controls.
Who Should Be Careful?
Honey is high in sugar, so people managing blood glucose should account for it within their overall carbohydrate intake.
People taking medications, especially medications that affect blood clotting or blood pressure, should talk with their healthcare professional before consuming large amounts of concentrated garlic preparations.
If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, immunocompromised, or managing a medical condition, it’s best to discuss concentrated homemade preparations with your healthcare professional rather than using them as a treatment.
Storage for Garlic in honey
Keep homemade garlic in honey refrigerated in a clean, sealed container.
Use clean utensils whenever removing garlic or honey from the jar.
Do not keep homemade garlic-in-honey at room temperature for prolonged periods.
If you are uncertain about its safety, discard it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I eat garlic in honey every day?
Small culinary amounts can be incorporated into a normal diet, but there is no established medical dosage for homemade garlic in honey. It should be treated as a food, not a medicine.
Does garlic in honey boost immunity?
Garlic and honey contain compounds that have been studied for various biological effects, but there isn’t strong evidence that a homemade garlic-and-honey mixture can “boost” immunity in a clinically meaningful way.
How long should garlic sit in honey?
For flavor, several days can mellow the garlic, while longer periods produce a stronger infusion. However, longer storage does not automatically make a homemade mixture safer.
Can I use raw honey?
Yes, but using raw honey does not eliminate the food-safety concerns associated with storing fresh garlic in honey. Refrigeration is still important.
Can children eat garlic in honey?
Honey should never be given to children under 12 months old. For older children, ordinary culinary amounts may be appropriate, depending on their individual circumstances.
Can garlic in honey cure a cold?
No. Although honey may soothe a cough, garlic in honey has not been established as a cure for colds or other infections.
Final Thoughts for Garlic in honey
Garlic in honey is a simple and flavorful combination that has been used traditionally and has attracted scientific interest because both garlic and honey contain biologically active compounds. Garlic contributes sulfur compounds and savory flavor, while honey provides sweetness and naturally occurring antioxidant compounds.The most useful way to enjoy this combination is as a food ingredient rather than a medical remedy. Add small amounts to salad dressings, marinades, roasted vegetables, chicken, fish, or toast for a delicious sweet-and-savory flavor.Most importantly, homemade garlic submerged in honey should be handled carefully. Refrigerate it rather than assuming it is shelf-stable, use clean equipment, and never give honey to babies under one year of age.With proper food-safety precautions, garlic and honey can be a delicious addition to your kitchen and an easy way to create flavorful homemade sauces and marinades.
